Monday, January 5, 2026

It is the 5th of January 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

A very Happy Monday to you, hear in the new year- I am back from the mountains where I was speaking at a camp this weekend- a little bleary eyed- but none the worse for wear. It is Monday, and so I will head to the mailbag- you can send me your questions at danv@1517.org.

Emily wrote from Bowling Green, Kentucky. There are like four different “Bowling Greens,” but this is the big one, there in Western Kentucky- home to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (and the lady Hilltoppers) and Big Red, one of the stranger mascots in history.  

Emily wrote about an ongoing conversation she is having with her son, who has started attending a Greek Orthodox Church. Among her many questions, she asked me about the difference between “them” (the Greek Orthodox) and “us” (which I will interpret as Protestant) when it comes to the Bible.

Ok- so, Emily- the first thing I will do for you is put a series of links in the unofficial transcript to this show- and I’ll ask Gillespie to make some links in the show notes to a series of Weekend Edition shows I did awhile back on the “Brief History of the World’s Most Famous Book” which I did in three parts.

• https://www.1517.org/podcast-overview/2024-09-28
• https://www.1517.org/podcast-overview/2024-10-26
• https://www.1517.org/podcast-overview/2024-11-16

When it comes to Scripture, there is more that unites us than divides us- but that doesn’t mean the differences aren’t important.

I find it interesting and important that when it comes to the New Testament, there is no dispute. We can have discussions about textual variants- and the Greek Orthodox will emphasize a textual tradition that will have them using the New King James- but these are intra-Protestant debates as well.

So- bracket off the 27 books of the New Testament- you and your son can debate the interpretation of the texts- but not which texts.

When it comes to the Old Testament, this is where you’re going to see some differences. Protestants will generally claim a 39-book Old Testament Canon (don’t get too hung up on the number- sometimes books with “1st” and “2nd” would be combined, and so we want to look at the content.

The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the Septuagint as its basis for the Old Testament- that is, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures used by Jewish believers in diaspora. It is a Greek translation of the Torah that comes from the 3rd century BC. It was augmented with Greek translations of other Hebrew Bible books, and it became, in many ways, the “Old Testament” that many of our New Testament authors, and Jesus!

But- the Septuagint (you might see it referenced as LXX- that means “70”- similar to “Septuagint”- it’s allegedly the number of translators) and the other Greek translations of Hebrew texts aren’t super clear as to what is canon and what isn’t.

By about 1000 AD the Jewish community produced what is called the “Masoretic Text”- this is a meticulous and standardized Hebrew Bible used as the official rabbinic text for Jewish believers and became the basis for the Protestant Old Testament of 39 books- NOT including the extra bits- the Catholics will accept some of those (Judith, Tobit etc…) and Orthodox have a few more.

There isn’t a clear-cut answer- textual criticism involves “families” of texts, and over the years, even within textual traditions, you will have disagreement.

Here are my quick takeaway points, Emily. The New Testament is the same- and our core doctrines are put in final form there- so this is good news!

All 39 books of the Protestant Old Testament are accepted by Orthodox and Catholic believers- they might have a few more- but we all agree on the 39. Terms like “apocrypha” (meaning- hidden) or “deutero-canonical” (meaning- secondary) are usually terms used by Protestants to refer to some of those “extra” books. What I really recommend is getting an approved Study Bible from the Orthodox to use next to your study bible of choice. I’m currently looking at my Orthodox Study Bible- a 2008 version from St. Athanasius Academy. Collecting Study Bibles from different traditions is a quick way to start figuring out the differences as defined by the people in the fights. I love history of Scripture questions- and if you haven’t heard my three-part Weekend Edition- give it a shot!

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary- a great day across daily lectionary texts- this is from Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 5th of January 2026, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who appreciates the collegiate tradition of women’s teams becoming the “lady” version of the mascot… he is  Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man whose favorite Western Kentucky Hilltopper is easy: my man Tyler Higbee… I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.